Vehicle comprising seat and airbag device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle that comprises a seat cushion in which an inclination of a seating surface can be changed, which is configured so that loads that are applied to the body of a user when an airbag expands can be suppressed, while maintaining effect of an airbag device.SOLUTION: The vehicle comprises a seat, an airbag device, and a control device. The seat has a seating surface angle changing device for changing a seating surface angle that is an angle formed by a floor surface of the vehicle and a seating surface of the seat cushion, from a normal angle at a normal position to an angle in a forward ascending direction and in a forward descending direction. The control device controls the airbag device so that an expanding state of the airbag is changed, on the basis of the seating surface angle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle having a seat with a seat cushion whose seating surface inclination can be changed and an airbag device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a vehicle seat in which the inclination of the seating surface of a seat cushion can be changed between a downward-forward state where the front part of the seating surface of the seat cushion is lower than the rear part and an upward-forward state where the front part of the seating surface is higher than the rear part.

[0003] Also, Patent Document 2 describes providing a seat cushion airbag device that deploys upward at the front part of a seat cushion in order to suppress a submarine phenomenon in which the upper body of a seat occupant slides between the seat surface and a seat belt and the lower body slides forward during a vehicle collision.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The inventors considered applying a seat cushion airbag device to a seat cushion whose inclination of the seating surface can be changed. When setting the deployment amount of the airbag so that the submarine phenomenon can be suppressed even when the seat cushion is in a forward-downward state, when the airbag is deployed when the seat cushion is in a forward-upward state, it was found that the over-deployed airbag may force the seated person to make an excessive posture change, increasing the burden on the seated person's body. On the other hand, when the deployment amount of the airbag is reduced, it was found that there is a possibility that the submarine phenomenon suppression effect cannot be sufficiently obtained when the seat cushion is in a forward-downward state.

[0006] In view of the above background, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle having a seat cushion whose inclination of the seating surface can be changed, which maintains the effect of the airbag device while suppressing the burden on the user's body when the airbag is deployed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, an aspect of the present invention is a vehicle (V) having a floor (3), a seat (1) provided on the floor, an airbag device (37) including airbags (64, 67, 68) that can be deployed to protect a user during a collision, and a control device (16) configured to control the airbag device. The seat has a seat cushion (4) that supports the user's buttocks from below, and a seat surface angle change device (11) for changing a seat surface angle (θ), which is an angle formed by the floor surface (R) of the vehicle and the seating surface (S) of the seat cushion, from a normal angle (θ0) in a normal position in the forward-upward direction and the forward-downward direction. The control device is configured to control the airbag device so that the deployment state of the airbag changes based on the seat surface angle.

[0008] According to this aspect, by changing the deployment state of the airbag based on the seat surface angle, while maintaining the effect of the airbag device, the burden applied to the user's body when the airbag is deployed is suppressed.

[0009] In the above aspect, the airbag device (37) has a seat cushion airbag device (61, 78), and the airbag (64, 67, 68) has a cushion airbag (64) provided in the seat cushion (4). The seat cushion airbag device may include the cushion airbag and an inflater (65) that expands the cushion airbag from the front part of the seating surface of the seat cushion by introducing gas into the interior of the cushion airbag.

[0010] According to this aspect, by changing the deployment state of the cushion airbag based on the seat surface angle, the submarine phenomenon suppression effect is maintained and the burden on the user's body is suppressed.

[0011] In the above aspect, when the seat surface angle (θ) exceeds or is less than a predetermined value compared to the normal angle (θ0), the control device (16) may control the seat cushion airbag device (61, 78) such that the deployment height of the cushion airbag (64) becomes higher than when the seat surface angle is the normal angle.

[0012] According to this aspect, when the seat cushion is in a forward-lowered state and the backward reaction force and frictional force on the user from the seat cushion are small or not expected, the submarine phenomenon is suppressed by increasing the deployment height of the cushion airbag.

[0013] In the above aspect, when the seat surface angle (θ) is less than zero degrees, the control device (16) may control the seat cushion airbag device (61, 78) such that the deployment height of the cushion airbag (64) becomes higher than when the seat surface angle is the normal angle (θ0).

[0014] According to this aspect, when the seat cushion is in a forward-lowering state and the backward reaction force and frictional force on the user from the seat cushion cannot be expected, the submarine phenomenon is suppressed by increasing the deployment height of the cushion airbag.

[0015] In the above aspect, when the seat surface angle (θ) exceeds a predetermined value and is greater than the normal angle (θ0), the control device (16) may control the seat cushion airbag device (61, 78) such that the deployment height of the cushion airbag (64) is lower than that when the seat surface angle is the normal angle, or such that the cushion airbag is not deployed.

[0016] According to this aspect, when the seat cushion is in a forward-rising state and a large backward reaction force and frictional force on the user from the seat cushion can be expected, and the reaction force and frictional force contribute to the suppression of the submarine phenomenon, by increasing the deployment height of the cushion airbag, while maintaining the suppression effect of the submarine phenomenon, the burden on the user's body can be reduced.

[0017] In the above aspect, when the control device (16) deploys the airbag (64, 67, 68) when the seat surface angle is less than the normal angle by a predetermined value, the seat cushion (4) may be displaced in the forward-rising direction.

[0018] According to this aspect, when the seat cushion rises forward, the backward reaction force and frictional force on the user from the seat cushion increase, and this reaction force and frictional force act as a force to suppress the submarine phenomenon.

[0019] In the above aspect, when the control device (16) deploys the airbag (64, 67, 68) when the seat surface angle (θ) exceeds a predetermined value and is greater than the normal angle (θ0), the seat cushion may be displaced in the forward-lowering direction.

[0020] According to this aspect, by displacing the seat cushion in the forward-up state in the forward-down direction, the burden applied to the user's body during a vehicle collision is reduced.

[0021] In the above aspect, it further has an outside vehicle body monitoring device (13) configured to detect obstacles (82, 83) around the vehicle (V) and output the detection result to the control device (16). The control device is configured to predict the possibility of the vehicle colliding with the obstacle based on the detection result of the outside vehicle body monitoring device. When a collision is predicted, (i) when the seat surface angle (θ) is less than the normal angle (θ0) by more than a predetermined value, before activating the airbag device (37), the seat surface angle changing device (11) is controlled so that the seat cushion (4) is displaced in the forward-up direction; (ii) when the seat surface angle is greater than the normal angle by more than a predetermined value, before activating the airbag device, the seat cushion may be displaced in the forward-down direction.

[0022] According to this aspect, when the seat cushion is in a largely forward-down state, the seat cushion is displaced in the forward-up direction, and the suppression effect of the submarine phenomenon is enhanced. When the seat cushion is in a largely forward-up state, the seat cushion is displaced in the forward-down direction, and the burden applied to the user's body is reduced.

[0023] In the above aspect, it further has a vehicle speed sensor configured to detect the speed (v) of the vehicle (V) and output the detection result to the control device. The control device (16) may change the deployment height of the cushion airbag (64) based on the speed.

[0024] According to this aspect, since the deployment height of the cushion airbag is changed based on the vehicle speed, the cushion airbag is deployed only by the height required to suppress the submarine phenomenon, and the burden applied to the user's body is reduced.

[0025] In the above aspect, when the speed (v) is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the control device (16) may control the seat cushion airbag device (61, 78) such that the deployment height of the cushion airbag (64) is suppressed as compared with the case where the speed exceeds the predetermined value, or such that the cushion airbag is not deployed.

[0026] According to this aspect, when the vehicle speed is low and the submarine phenomenon can be sufficiently suppressed even if the deployment height of the cushion airbag is low, the burden on the user's body is reduced by suppressing the deployment height of the cushion airbag.

[0027] In the above aspect, when the seat surface angle (θ) exceeds a predetermined value and is greater than the normal angle (θ0), and the speed (v) is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the control device may control the seat cushion airbag device so that the cushion airbag is not deployed.

[0028] According to this aspect, when the submarine phenomenon can be sufficiently suppressed only by a large reaction force and frictional force acting rearward on the user from the seat cushion, the burden on the user's body is reduced by not deploying the cushion airbag.

[0029] In the above aspect, the seat (1) has a driver's seat and other seats other than the driver's seat, and the deployment height of the cushion airbag (64) of the other seats may be higher than the deployment height of the cushion airbag of the driver's seat.

[0030] According to this aspect, the submarine phenomenon is suppressed by the high deployment height of the cushion airbag for the users of the other seats who are sitting in a relatively unstable state.

[0031] In the above aspect, the seat (1) has a driver's seat and other seats which are seats other than the driver's seat. When the vehicle (V) collides or a collision is predicted, the control device (16) causes the seat cushion to be displaced in the upward-forward direction, and the displacement amount of the seat cushion of the other seat in the upward-forward direction is larger than the displacement amount of the seat cushion of the driver's seat in the upward-forward direction. The seat surface angle changing device may be controlled.

[0032] According to this aspect, in other seats where the user is seated in a relatively unstable state, the backward reaction force and frictional force from the seat cushion in the upward-forward state increase, and the submarining phenomenon is suppressed.

[0033] In the above aspect, the cushion airbag (64) has left and right side cushion airbags (79) provided on both side portions (81) of the seat cushion (4). The control device (16) can independently control the deployment height of the left and right side cushion airbags. When the relative approaching direction between the obstacle (83) to be collided with and the vehicle (V) is deviated from the traveling direction of the vehicle with respect to the road surface, when the vehicle collides with the obstacle, the control device causes the deployment height of one of the left and right side cushion airbags arranged on the side where the obstacle exists with respect to the vehicle to be higher than the deployment height of the other of the left and right side cushion airbags. The seat cushion airbag device (78) may be controlled.

[0034] According to this aspect, even when a force is applied to the user diagonally forward due to the deviation between the traveling direction and the approaching direction during a collision, the suppression effect of the submarining phenomenon on the user to whom the force is applied diagonally forward is improved because the deployment height of the side cushion airbag on the side where the obstacle exists is high.

[0035] In the above aspect, the seat cushion (4) has a pair of side portions (81) capable of changing the seat surface angle (θ) independently of each other, and the control device (16) and the seat surface angle changing device (11) are configured to be able to independently control the seat surface angles of the pair of side portions of the seat cushion, and when the vehicle (V) collides with an obstacle (83) or when a collision is predicted, the control device may control the seat surface angle changing device so that the displacement amount in the upward-forward direction of one of the pair of side portions disposed on the side where the obstacle exists with respect to the vehicle is larger than the displacement amount in the upward-forward direction of the other of the pair of side portions.

[0036] According to this aspect, at the time of collision, due to the deviation from the traveling direction and the approaching direction, even when a force is applied to the user diagonally forward, the seat surface angle θ of the side portion on the side where the obstacle exists becomes larger, so that the suppression effect of the submarine phenomenon on the user to whom the force is applied diagonally forward is improved.

[0037] In the above aspect, it further has an upper body restraint device (72, 75) that restrains the upper body of the user and is controllable by the control device (16), and when the vehicle (V) collides or when a collision is predicted, the control device may control the upper body restraint device in a direction in which the restraining force increases.

[0038] According to this aspect, the stability of the user at the time of collision of the vehicle is enhanced by the upper body restraint device.

[0039] In the above aspect, the seat (1) is supported by the rear portion of the seat cushion (4), and further has a seat back (5) that supports the back of the user from the rear in the seat front-rear direction, and a reclining device (36) that tilts the seat back with respect to the seat cushion around a tilting axis extending in the seat width direction, and when the seat surface angle (θ) exceeds a predetermined value and is greater than the normal angle (θ0), and when the vehicle (V) collides or when a collision is predicted, the control device (16) may control the reclining device so that the upper portion of the seat back (5) faces backward.

[0040] According to this aspect, when the seat back reclines, the burden on the user's body is reduced.

[0041] In the above aspect, a plurality of the cushion airbags (64a, 64b, 79a, 79b) are arranged so as to overlap vertically within the seat cushion in a non-deployed state, at least one inflater (65a, 65b) is provided for each of the cushion airbags, and the control device (16) may change the deployment height of the cushion airbags as a whole by controlling the inflaters corresponding to the respective cushion airbags independently of each other.

[0042] According to this aspect, by selecting the cushion airbag to be deployed, the deployment height of the cushion airbag can be adjusted stepwise.

Advantages of the Invention

[0043] A certain aspect of the present invention is a vehicle (V) having a floor (3), a seat (1) provided on the floor, an airbag device (37) including airbags (64, 67, 68) that can be deployed to protect a user during a collision, and a control device (16) configured to control the airbag device, wherein the seat has a seat cushion (4) that supports the user's buttocks from below, and a seat surface angle changing device (11) for changing a seat surface angle (θ), which is an angle formed by a floor surface (R) of the vehicle and a seating surface (S) of the seat cushion, from a normal angle (θ0) in a normal position in forward-upward and forward-downward directions, and the control device is configured to control the airbag device such that a deployment state of the airbag changes based on the seat surface angle.

[0044] According to this aspect, by changing the deployment state of the airbag based on the seat surface angle, while maintaining the effect of the airbag device, the burden applied to the user's body when the airbag is deployed is suppressed.

[0045] In the above aspect, the airbag device (37) has a seat cushion airbag device (61, 78), the airbags (64, 67, 68) have a cushion airbag (64) provided in the seat cushion (4), and the seat cushion airbag device may include the cushion airbag and an inflater (65) that introduces gas into the interior of the cushion airbag to deploy the cushion airbag from the front part of the seating surface of the seat cushion.

[0046] According to this aspect, by changing the deployment state of the cushion airbag based on the seat surface angle, the submarine phenomenon suppression effect is maintained, and the burden on the user's body is suppressed.

[0047] In the above aspect, when the seat surface angle (θ) exceeds a predetermined value and is lower than the normal angle (θ0), the control device (16) may control the seat cushion airbag device (61, 78) so that the deployment height of the cushion airbag (64) is higher than that when the seat surface angle is the normal angle.

[0048] According to this aspect, when the seat cushion is in a forward-lowered state and the backward reaction force and frictional force on the user from the seat cushion are small or not expected, the submarine phenomenon is suppressed by increasing the deployment height of the cushion airbag.

[0049] In the above aspect, when the seat surface angle (θ) is less than zero degrees, the control device (16) may control the seat cushion airbag device (61, 78) so that the deployment height of the cushion airbag (64) is higher than that when the seat surface angle is the normal angle (θ0).

[0050] According to this aspect, when the seat cushion is in a forward-lowered state and the backward reaction force and frictional force on the user from the seat cushion are not expected, the submarine phenomenon is suppressed by increasing the deployment height of the cushion airbag.

[0051] In the above aspect, when the seat surface angle (θ) exceeds a predetermined value and is greater than the normal angle (θ0), the control device (16) may control the seat cushion airbag device (61, 78) such that the deployment height of the cushion airbag (64) is lower than that when the seat surface angle is the normal angle, or such that the cushion airbag is not deployed.

[0052] According to this aspect, when the seat cushion is in the forward-rising state and a large backward reaction force and frictional force on the user from the seat cushion can be expected, and when the reaction force and frictional force contribute to the suppression of the submarining phenomenon, by increasing the deployment height of the cushion airbag, the suppression effect of the submarining phenomenon can be maintained while reducing the burden on the user's body.

[0053] In the above aspect, when the control device (16) deploys the airbag (64, 67, 68) when the seat surface angle is less than the normal angle by more than a predetermined value, the control device (16) may displace the seat cushion (4) in the forward-rising direction.

[0054] According to this aspect, when the seat cushion rises forward, the backward reaction force and frictional force on the user from the seat cushion increase, and this reaction force and frictional force act as a force to suppress the submarining phenomenon.

[0055] In the above aspect, when the control device (16) deploys the airbag (64, 67, 68) when the seat surface angle (θ) exceeds a predetermined value and is greater than the normal angle (θ0), the control device (16) may displace the seat cushion in the forward-lowering direction.

[0056] According to this aspect, by displacing the forward-rising seat cushion in the forward-lowering direction, the burden applied to the user's body during a vehicle collision is reduced.

[0057] In the above aspect, the vehicle (V) further includes an outside vehicle compartment monitoring device (13) configured to detect obstacles (82, 83) around the vehicle and output the detection result to the control device (16). Based on the detection result of the outside vehicle compartment monitoring device, the control device is configured to predict the possibility of the vehicle colliding with the obstacle. When a collision is predicted, (i) if the seat surface angle (θ) is less than the normal angle (θ0) by more than a predetermined value, before activating the airbag device (37), the seat surface angle changing device (11) is controlled so that the seat cushion (4) is displaced in the forward upward direction; (ii) if the seat surface angle is greater than the normal angle by more than a predetermined value, before activating the airbag device, the seat cushion may be displaced in the forward downward direction.

[0058] According to this aspect, when the seat cushion is in a largely forward downward state, the seat cushion is displaced in the forward upward direction, enhancing the suppression effect of the submarine phenomenon. When the seat cushion is in a largely forward upward state, the seat cushion is displaced in the forward downward direction, reducing the burden on the user's body.

[0059] In the above aspect, the vehicle (V) further includes a vehicle speed sensor configured to detect the speed (v) of the vehicle and output the detection result to the control device. The control device (16) may change the deployment height of the cushion airbag (64) based on the speed.

[0060] According to this aspect, since the deployment height of the cushion airbag is changed based on the vehicle speed, the cushion airbag is deployed only to the height necessary for suppressing the submarine phenomenon, reducing the burden on the user's body.

[0061] In the above aspect, when the speed (v) is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the control device (16) may control the seat cushion airbag devices (61, 78) so that the deployment height of the cushion airbag (64) is suppressed compared to when the speed exceeds the predetermined value, or so that the cushion airbag is not deployed.

[0062] According to this aspect, when the vehicle speed is low and the submarine phenomenon can be sufficiently suppressed even if the deployment height of the cushion airbag is low, the deployment height of the cushion airbag is suppressed, thereby reducing the burden on the user's body.

[0063] In the above aspect, when the seat surface angle (θ) exceeds a predetermined value and is greater than the normal angle (θ0), and the speed (v) is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the control device may control the seat cushion airbag device so that the cushion airbag is not deployed.

[0064] According to this aspect, when the submarine phenomenon is sufficiently suppressed only by a large backward reaction force and frictional force on the user from the seat cushion, the burden on the user's body is reduced because the cushion airbag is not deployed.

[0065] In the above aspect, the seat (1) has a driver's seat and another seat other than the driver's seat, and the deployment height of the cushion airbag (64) of the other seat may be higher than the deployment height of the cushion airbag of the driver's seat.

[0066] According to this aspect, the submarine phenomenon is suppressed because the deployment height of the cushion airbag for the user of the other seat sitting in a relatively unstable state is high.

[0067] In the above aspect, the seat (1) has a driver's seat and another seat other than the driver's seat. When the vehicle (V) collides or a collision is predicted, the control device (16) causes the seat cushion to displace in the forward upward direction, and the displacement amount of the seat cushion of the other seat in the forward upward direction is greater than the displacement amount of the seat cushion of the driver's seat in the forward upward direction. The seat surface angle changing device may be controlled.

[0068] According to this aspect, in other seats where use is seated in a relatively unstable state, the backward reaction force and frictional force from the seat cushion in the upward-forward state increase, and the submarine phenomenon is suppressed.

[0069] In the above aspect, the cushion airbag (64) has left and right side cushion airbags (79) provided on both side portions (81) of the seat cushion (4), and the control device (16) can independently control the deployment height of the left and right side cushion airbags. When the relative approaching direction between the obstacle (83) to collide and the vehicle (V) is deviated from the traveling direction of the vehicle with respect to the road surface, when the vehicle collides with the obstacle, the control device may control the seat cushion airbag device (78) such that the deployment height of one of the left and right side cushion airbags disposed on the side where the obstacle exists with respect to the vehicle is higher than the deployment height of the other of the left and right side cushion airbags.

[0070] According to this aspect, even when a force is applied to the user diagonally forward due to the deviation from the traveling direction and the approaching direction at the time of collision, the suppression effect of the submarine phenomenon on the user to whom the force is applied diagonally forward is improved because the deployment height of the side cushion airbag on the side where the obstacle exists is high.

[0071] In the above aspect, the seat cushion (4) has a pair of side portions (81) capable of independently changing the seat surface angle (θ), and the control device (16) and the seat surface angle changing device (11) are configured to be able to independently control the seat surface angles of the pair of side portions of the seat cushion. When the vehicle (V) collides with an obstacle (83) or when a collision is predicted, the control device may control the seat surface angle changing device such that the displacement amount in the upward-forward direction of one of the pair of side portions disposed on the side where the obstacle exists with respect to the vehicle is larger than the displacement amount in the upward-forward direction of the other of the pair of side portions.

[0072] According to this aspect, even when a force is applied to the user diagonally forward due to a deviation from the traveling direction and the approaching direction during a collision, the seat surface angle θ of the side portion on the side where the obstacle exists increases, thereby improving the effect of suppressing the submarine phenomenon on the user to whom the force is applied diagonally forward.

[0073] In the above aspect, it further has an upper body restraint device (72, 75) that restrains the upper body of the user and can be controlled by the control device (16). When the vehicle (V) collides or a collision is predicted, the control device may control the upper body restraint device in a direction in which the restraint force increases.

[0074] According to this aspect, the stability of the user during a collision of the vehicle is enhanced by the upper body restraint device.

[0075] In the above aspect, the seat (1) is supported at the rear of the seat cushion (4), and further includes a seat back (5) that supports the user's back from the rear in the seat front-rear direction, and a reclining device (36) that tilts the seat back with respect to the seat cushion around a tilting axis extending in the seat width direction. When the seat surface angle (θ) exceeds a predetermined value above the normal angle (θ0), and when the vehicle (V) collides or a collision is predicted, the control device (16) may control the reclining device so that the upper part of the seat back (5) faces rearward.

[0076] According to this aspect, the burden on the user's body is reduced by the rearward tilt of the seat back.

[0077] In the above aspect, a plurality of the cushion airbags (64a, 64b, 79a, 79b) are arranged so as to overlap vertically within the seat cushion in a non-deployed state. At least one inflater (65a, 65b) is provided for each of the cushion airbags. The control device (16) may change the deployment height of the cushion airbags as a whole by controlling the inflaters corresponding to the respective cushion airbags independently of each other.

[0078] According to this aspect, by selecting the cushion airbag to be deployed, the deployment height of the cushion airbag can be adjusted step by step.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0079]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0080] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the vehicle seat 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows a deformable mode of the vehicle seat 1, FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a vehicle V including the vehicle seat 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system 2 related to the vehicle seat 1. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the "front-rear direction", "left-right direction", and "up-down direction" mean the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction of the vehicle V. Also, a direction based on the vehicle seat 1, such as the "seat front-rear direction", means the direction as seen from a user seated on the vehicle seat 1.

[0081] <<First Embodiment>> As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle seat 1 is installed on the floor 3 in the vehicle interior of the vehicle V. The vehicle seat 1 includes a seat cushion 4, a seat back 5 supported at the rear of the seat cushion 4, and a headrest 6 connected to the upper part of the seat back 5. The seat cushion 4 supports the user's buttocks from below, the seat back 5 supports the user's back from the rear in the seat front-rear direction, and the headrest 6 supports the user's head from the rear in the seat front-rear direction. The seat cushion 4 and the seat back 5 each include a frame, a pad supported by the frame, and a skin material covering the surface on the user side of the pad (not shown).

[0082] A rotating device 8 is supported on the floor 3 via a sliding device 7. The rotating device 8 rotatably supports a support member 9 with respect to the sliding device 7 around a vertical axis Z passing through substantially the center in the seat front-rear direction and the seat width direction. The front end of the seat cushion 4 or the vicinity thereof is tiltably connected to the front end of the support member 9 around a tilting axis Y1 in the seat width direction. A seat surface angle changing actuator 10 that can expand and contract in its extending direction is pivotally connected at one end to a position below and / or behind the seat with respect to the tilting axis Y1 of the support member 9, and at the other end to a position behind the seat of the seat cushion 4, around an axis in the seat width direction. As the seat surface angle changing actuator 10, an electric cylinder, an air cylinder, or a hydraulic cylinder having a motor may be used.

[0083] The angle that varies around the tilting axis Y1 formed by the reference plane R (floor surface) orthogonal to the vertical direction and the seating surface S of the seat cushion 4 is defined as the seat surface angle θ (thigh angle). The support member 9 and the seat surface angle changing actuator 10 constitute the main part of a seat surface angle changing device 11 that changes the seat surface angle θ. Since the seating surface S deforms during actual sitting, strictly speaking, it is set with reference to the seat frame. When viewed from the side of the seat, the three points of the tilting axis Y1 and the two rotatable connection points of the seat surface angle changing actuator 10 to the support member 9 and the seat cushion 4 are not arranged on the same straight line, that is, they are arranged to form the vertices of a triangle. Therefore, when the seat surface angle changing actuator 10 expands and contracts, the seat surface angle θ is changed. The seat surface angle changing device 11 can tilt the seat cushion 4 around the tilting axis Y1 between a state where the front end of the seating surface S is inclined downward with respect to the reference plane R (the state where the seat surface angle θ is negative, see Fig. 1(A)) and a state where the front end of the seating surface S is inclined upward with respect to the reference plane R (the state where the seat surface angle θ is positive, see Fig. 1(C)).

[0084] In the illustrated example, the tilting axis Y1 is arranged at the front end of the seat cushion 4, but the tilting axis Y1 may be arranged at any position from the front end to the rear end of the seat cushion 4, and the seat surface angle changing device 11 may have a configuration that allows the seat cushion 4 to tilt with respect to the reference plane R.

[0085] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the system 2 includes an in-vehicle monitoring device 12 that acquires information inside the vehicle cabin, an out-of-vehicle monitoring device 13 that acquires information outside the vehicle, an input / output device 14 that receives and provides information to the user, a vehicle state monitoring device 15 that acquires information regarding the state of the vehicle V, a control device 16 that receives information from the in-vehicle monitoring device 12, the out-of-vehicle monitoring device 13, the input / output device 14, and the vehicle state monitoring device 15 and transmits information to the input / output device 14, and a plurality of controlled devices 17 controlled by the control device 16.

[0086] The in-vehicle monitoring device 12 includes one or more in-vehicle cameras 18 that image the interior of the vehicle, a plurality of object sensors 19 provided on the vehicle seat 1, a seating sensor 20 provided on the seat cushion 4, a biological sensor 21, and a seat surface angle sensor 22.

[0087] The in-vehicle camera 18 is arranged at a position where it can image the user and the periphery of the vehicle seat 1. The in-vehicle camera 18 may be constituted by a CMOS image sensor. The in-vehicle camera 18 is preferably constituted by a compound eye camera including a plurality of imaging elements and capable of distance imaging based on triangulation such as stereo measurement or light section method.

[0088] The object sensor 19 is a sensor that detects objects inside the vehicle, and may be a proximity sensor, a lidar, an ultrasonic sensor, or the like. Alternatively, the object sensor 19 may be constituted by a ToF (Time of Flight) sensor module that includes a light source and a detector and performs distance measurement by acquiring the time until the light emitted from the light source reaches the detector. The object sensor 19 may be arranged, for example, along the outer peripheral surface of the seat cushion 4 or provided at an appropriate position of the headrest 6. Also, the object sensors 19 may be arranged side by side in the front-rear direction on the door panel or the floor 3.

[0089] The seating sensor 20 may be a membrane switch or an electrostatic sensor provided on the seat cushion 4. The seating sensor 20 detects the pressure applied to the seat cushion 4, and the control device 16 that receives the detection result determines whether the user is seated on the vehicle seat 1. A seat belt reminder (SBR) system that issues an alarm when the user is seated on the vehicle seat 1 but not wearing the seat belt is adopted, and the seating determination using the seating sensor 20 is performed to determine whether an alarm is necessary.

[0090] The biological sensor 21 may be a heartbeat sensor, a respiration sensor, a pressure sensor, or an electroencephalogram sensor. The heartbeat sensor is provided on the front surface of the seat back 5, and is preferably disposed at a position corresponding to the user's heart. The heartbeat sensor is a sensor that detects the user's heart rate. The heartbeat sensor may be based on any of a touch type, an optical type, and an electrocardiogram type. The respiration sensor is a sensor that detects the user's respiration rate and the depth of respiration. The respiration sensor may be, for example, a type that detects the pressure applied from the user at a position corresponding to the user's lungs on the front surface of the seat back 5 and reads the pressure change caused by the user's respiratory movement. The respiration sensor may be based on a method of providing two sheet-like electrodes along the front surface of the seat back 5 and detecting the variation in capacitance between the electrodes due to the movement of the user's chest. The pressure sensor is a sensor used to detect the user's posture based on the pressure applied to the seat cushion 4 and the seat back 5. The pressure sensor is provided in a planar shape on the surfaces of the seat cushion 4 and the seat back 5 facing the user, measures the in-plane distribution (pressure distribution) of the pressure applied from the user to them, and detects the user's posture. The electroencephalogram sensor includes a magnetic sensor provided at a position facing the user's head in the headrest 6. The magnetic sensor detects the magnetic signal associated with the activity of the user's brain cells. The electroencephalogram sensor calculates the user's electroencephalogram based on the magnetic signal. As the electroencephalogram sensor, a magnetic sensor provided at a position facing the user's head in the headrest 6 may be used, and the control device 16 may calculate the user's electroencephalogram based on the magnetic signal.

[0091] The seat surface angle sensor 22 is provided between the support member 9 and the frame of the seat cushion 4 or in the seat surface angle changing actuator 10, and detects the seat surface angle θ (see FIG. 1) or information for calculating the seat surface angle θ.

[0092] The outside vehicle monitoring device 13 includes one or more outside vehicle photographing cameras 23 and a plurality of radars 24 and / or lidars 25 (LiDARs).

[0093] The outside vehicle camera 23 images the surroundings of the vehicle V, including objects existing around the vehicle V (e.g., surrounding vehicles and pedestrians), guardrails, curbs, walls, median strips, the shape of the road, road markings drawn on the road, etc. The outside vehicle camera 23 may be, for example, a digital camera using a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD or a CMOS. The outside vehicle camera 23 is provided, for example, on the ceiling inside the vehicle cabin and images the outside of the vehicle through the front glass, rear glass, or side glass. The outside vehicle camera 23 may be, for example, a stereo camera.

[0094] The radar 24 emits radio waves such as millimeter waves around the vehicle V and detects the position (distance and direction) of an object by capturing the reflected wave. The lidar 25 irradiates light such as infrared rays around the vehicle V and detects the position (distance and direction) of an object by capturing the reflected light. The radar 24 and / or the lidar 25 are attached outside the vehicle cabin of the vehicle V. The radar 24 and / or the lidar 25 include, for example, those that irradiate radio waves / light forward of the vehicle V, those that irradiate radio waves / light rearward of the vehicle V, and those that irradiate radio waves / light laterally of the vehicle V. The outside vehicle cabin monitoring device 13 may include a sonar.

[0095] The input / output device 14 receives an input operation by the user and notifies the user of various information by display or sound. The input / output device 14 may include, for example, a touch panel 26 that performs both input and output. Further, in addition to or instead of the touch panel 26, the input / output device 14 may include an input device (e.g., buttons, switches, and / or a microphone 27 that receives the user's voice input) and an output device (e.g., a display and / or a speaker 28 that notifies sound). A mobile terminal such as a smartphone may be communicable with the control device 16 wirelessly or by wire and used as the input / output device 14.

[0096] The vehicle state monitoring device 15 includes a vehicle speed sensor 29, a brake sensor 30, a steering angle sensor 31, a shift lever sensor 32, and a door sensor 33. The vehicle speed sensor 29 detects the vehicle speed of the vehicle V. The brake sensor 30 includes a brake pedal sensor that detects the depression amount of the brake pedal and a parking brake sensor that detects the operation amount of the parking brake lever. The steering angle sensor 31 detects the steering angle of the steering wheel. The shift lever sensor 32 detects where the shift lever is placed, such as in parking (P), reverse (R), neutral (N), drive (D), etc. The door sensor 33 detects the open / closed state of the door of the vehicle V.

[0097] The control device 16 is a so-called Electronic Control Unit, which controls the vehicle seat 1 based on the information acquired by the in-vehicle monitoring device 12, the out-vehicle monitoring device 13, and the vehicle state monitoring device 15, as well as the information input by the user to the input / output device 14. The control device 16 is composed of a computer including a processor 34 constituted by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) etc., and a storage device 35 including a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and an SSD (Solid State Drive) and / or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The control device 16 is connected to the in-vehicle monitoring device 12, the out-vehicle monitoring device 13, the input / output device 14, the vehicle state monitoring device 15, and the control target device 17 so that signals can be transmitted and received by signal lines or wirelessly. The control device 16 and the control target device 17 are connected to a power source (not shown) mounted on the vehicle V and receive power supply from the power source. The control device 16 can acquire information regarding the vehicle seat 1, such as the state of the seat surface angle θ (see FIG. 1), based on the information acquired by the in-vehicle monitoring device 12 and the control history for the control target device 17.

[0098] The controlled device 17 controlled by the control device 16 includes, in addition to the above-described slide device 7, rotation device 8, and seat surface angle changing device 11, a reclining device 36 that tilts the seat back 5, an airbag device 37 that protects the user during a collision of the vehicle V, a side support device 38 that changes the height of both side portions of the seat cushion 4, a seat heater 39 that warms the seat cushion 4, and a vibration device 40 that vibrates the seat cushion 4 to prompt the user's attention.

[0099] The control device 16 can calculate the seat surface angle θ from the detection value of the seat surface angle sensor 22. The seat surface angle sensor 22 may be, for example, an angle potentiometer provided between the support member 9 and the seat cushion 4. Further, the seat surface angle sensor 22 may be a stroke sensor that detects the length of the seat surface angle changing actuator 10, and the control device 16 may calculate the seat surface angle θ based on the length of the seat surface angle changing actuator 10. The control device 16 may also calculate the seat surface angle θ from the control history of the seat surface angle changing actuator 10.

[0100] The user can change the seat surface angle θ by operating the input / output device 14. The input / output device 14 outputs an operation signal corresponding to the user's operation to the control device 16. The control device 16 controls the seat surface angle changing actuator 10 based on the operation signal to change the seat surface angle θ to an angle within the changeable range. The changeable range is the range of angles at which the seat surface angle θ can be changed, and is defined by the minimum angle (see FIG. 1(A)) and the maximum angle (see FIG. 1(C)). The changeable range is set by the control device 16.

[0101] The reclining device 36 is a device that tilts the seat back 5 with respect to the seat cushion 4 around a tilting axis Y2 (see FIG. 1) extending in the seat width direction. The tilting axis Y2 extends to the rear end in the seat front-rear direction of the seat cushion 4 and the lower end of the seat back 5.

[0102] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the airbag device 37 includes a seat cushion airbag device 61 provided in the seat cushion 4, a front airbag device 62 that protects the user from the front, and a side airbag device 63 provided on the side portion of the seat back 5.

[0103] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the seat cushion airbag device 61 includes a cushion airbag 64 provided in the seat cushion and an inflater 65. By introducing a gas such as air into the interior of the cushion airbag 64 by the inflater 65, the cushion airbag 64 is deployed from the front portion of the upper surface of the seat cushion 4. Thereby, the front portion of the seat cushion 4 bulges, and the submarine phenomenon can be suppressed. In this case, the cushion airbag 64 includes an upper airbag 64a and a lower airbag 64b that are arranged so as to overlap each other vertically within the seat cushion 4. The inflater 65 includes an upper inflater 65a that introduces gas into the upper airbag 64a and a lower inflater 65b that introduces gas into the lower airbag 64b.

[0104] The upper inflator 65a and the lower inflator 65b can be controlled independently of each other by a control device 16 (see FIG. 3). FIG. 4(A) shows a state where the cushion airbag 64 is not deployed, that is, neither the upper inflator 65a nor the lower inflator 65b is operating, and both the upper airbag 64a and the lower airbag 64b are housed in the seat cushion 4. FIG. 4(B) shows a state where the upper inflator 65a is not operating and the lower inflator 65b is operating to introduce gas into the lower airbag 64b. At this time, the upper airbag 64a is pushed up by the inflated lower airbag 64b and slightly protrudes from the seating surface S of the seat cushion 4. FIG. 4(C) shows a state where the upper inflator 65a is operating to introduce gas into the upper airbag 64a and the lower inflator 65b is not operating. At this time, since the upper airbag 64a abuts on the lower airbag 64b at its lower surface, the inflation downward is suppressed. Therefore, the deployment height of the upper airbag 64a from the surface of the seat cushion 4 is higher than the deployment height when only the lower airbag 64b is inflated (FIG. 4(B)). FIG. 4(D) shows a state where the upper inflator 65a is operating to introduce gas into the upper airbag 64a and the lower inflator 65b is operating to introduce gas into the lower airbag 64b. At this time, the upper airbag 64a expands and is pushed up by the inflated lower airbag 64b. Therefore, the deployment height of the upper airbag 64a upward from the seating surface S is larger than the deployment height when only the lower airbag 64b or only the upper airbag 64a is inflated (FIG. 4(B), FIG. 4(C)).

[0105] Regarding the seat 1 other than the driver's seat (other seats), considering that the submarine phenomenon is relatively likely to occur, the size of the cushion airbag 64 is increased and the amount of gas introduced by the inflator 65 is increased compared to those provided in the driver's seat. As a result, the deployment height of the cushion airbag 64 above the seat in the seat 1 other than the driver's seat (other seats) can be made higher than the deployment height of the cushion airbag 64 above the seat in the driver's seat.

[0106] As shown in FIG. 5, the seat cushion airbag device 61 may have a deployment direction adjustment device 69 that is controlled by the control device 16 (see FIG. 3) to change the deployment direction of the cushion airbag 64. The deployment direction adjustment device 69 has a pair of plate members 70 provided in the seat cushion 4 so as to face each other in the front-rear direction of the seat cushion 4 with the upper airbag 64a interposed therebetween. The pair of plate members 70 are tiltable about an axis in the seat width direction so as to be displaced in the front-rear direction on the upper end side while maintaining a parallel state with each other. When the pair of plate members 70 make the seat cushion 4 in an upright state, the cushion airbag 64 deploys upward with respect to the upper surface of the seat cushion 4 (FIG. 5(A)), and when the upper portions of the pair of plate members 70 are tilted forward with respect to the seating surface S, the cushion airbag 64 deploys obliquely upward and forward with respect to the upper surface of the seat cushion 4 (FIG. 5(B)).

[0107] As shown in FIG. 6, a front airbag device 62 for protecting a user sitting on the frontmost seat 1 of the vehicle V is provided in the instrument panel 66. A front airbag device 62 for protecting a user sitting on the seat 1 in the second row and subsequent rows from the front of the vehicle V may be provided on the back of the seat 1 provided in front thereof (not shown). The front airbag device 62 has a front airbag 67 and an inflator (not shown). The inflator is controlled by the control device 16 to introduce a gas such as air into the front airbag 67, so that the front airbag 67 is deployed in front of the user. Similarly, the side airbag device 63 has a side airbag 68 and an inflator (not shown) that is controlled by the control device 16 to introduce a gas such as air into the side airbag 68 to deploy the side airbag 68 on the side of the user. The airbag device 37 (see FIG. 3) may further have a roof airbag device (not shown) having a curtain airbag disposed on the vehicle interior side of the roof of the vehicle V. The vehicle state monitoring device 15 includes a collision sensor 71 that detects an impact applied to the vehicle V. The control device 16 determines whether or not the vehicle V has collided with an obstacle based on the detection result of the collision sensor 71. If it is determined that a collision has occurred, the control device 16 controls the airbag device 37 to deploy airbags such as the cushion airbag 64, the front airbag 67, and the side airbag 68.

[0108] As shown in FIG. 7, the seat 1 further has a seat belt 72. Inside the seat back 5, a belt retractor 73 for winding up the seat belt 72 is provided. The control device 16 (see FIG. 3) can operate the belt retractor 73 to wind up the seat belt 72. When the seat belt 72 is wound up, the restraining force on the wearer of the seat belt 72 is increased.

[0109] The seat cushion 4 has a central portion 74 that supports the user's buttocks from below, and side support portions 75 that project upward adjacent to the left and right of the central portion 74. The seat back 5 has a central portion 76 that supports the user's back from behind, and side support portions 77 that project forward adjacent to the left and right of the central portion 76. The side support device 38 is provided not only on the seat cushion 4 but also on the seat back 5. The control device 16 (see FIG. 3) controls the side support device 38 to change the upward projection height of the side support portion 75 of the seat cushion 4 and the forward projection height of the side support portion 77 of the seat back 5. The side support device 38 can change the side support portion 75 of the seat cushion 4 and the side support portion 77 of the seat back 5 independently of each other.

[0110] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing during a collision of the vehicle V. With reference to FIGS. 3 to 8, a control method for the airbag device 37 based on the seat surface angle θ will be described.

[0111] The control device 16 acquires the seat surface angle θ from the seat surface angle sensor 22 (ST1). Instead of acquiring the seat surface angle θ from the seat surface angle sensor 22, it may be acquired based on the control history of the seat surface angle changing device 11 by the control device 16.

[0112] The control device 16 predicts whether the vehicle V will collide with an obstacle such as a pedestrian or another vehicle based on the detection results of the out-of-vehicle monitoring device 13 such as the out-of-vehicle imaging camera 23, the radar 24, and the lidar 25 (ST2).

[0113] Here, the normal angle θ0 of the seat surface angle θ is a standard angle at the time of factory shipment, but the user can freely change the seat surface angle θ by inputting a desired state to the input / output device 14. However, for the driver's seat during driving, it is recommended to set the seat surface angle θ within a predetermined range (θ0 ± Δθ). When a collision is predicted (Yes in ST2), the control device 16 determines whether the seat surface angle θ is within the above-mentioned recommended predetermined range (|θ - θ0| ≤ Δθ) (ST3).

[0114] When the seat surface angle θ is an angle outside the predetermined range (No in ST3), the control device 16 controls the seat surface angle changing device 11 so that the seat surface angle θ becomes an angle within the above predetermined range, and displaces the seat cushion 4 (ST4). That is, when the seat surface angle θ is less than θ0 - Δθ, the control device 16 displaces the seat cushion 4 in the forward upward direction, and when the seat surface angle θ exceeds θ0 + Δθ, the control device 16 displaces the seat cushion 4 in the forward downward direction. In addition, in this case, as a means for changing the seat surface angle θ in a short time, instead of the seat surface angle changing device 11, means such as a spring or gunpowder (not shown) controlled by the control device 16 may be used. The predetermined ranges may be different between the driver's seat and seats other than the driver's seat. Also, it is preferable that the seat surface angle θ after displacement in seats other than the driver's seat is larger than the seat surface angle θ after displacement in the driver's seat. The deviations of the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the predetermined range from the normal angle θ0 are equal to each other in this embodiment, but may be different from each other.

[0115] When a collision is not predicted (No in ST2), when a collision is predicted but the seat surface angle θ is an angle within the predetermined range (Yes in ST3), or when a collision is predicted and the change process of the seat surface angle θ is started because the seat surface angle θ is outside the predetermined range (ST4), the control device 16 determines whether or not the vehicle V has collided with an obstacle based on the detection result of the collision sensor 71.

[0116] When the control device 16 determines that the vehicle V has collided with an obstacle (Yes in ST5), in order to protect the user, it performs user protection processing (ST6). In the user protection processing, the control device 16 determines the deployment height of the cushion airbag 64 from the upper surface of the seat cushion 4 based on the seat surface angle θ and the speed of the vehicle V (vehicle speed v). The details are shown in Table 1. In Table 1 and its description, θ1 is greater than 0°, θ2 is greater than θ1, and the normal angle θ0 is greater than 0 and less than θ1. In another embodiment, the normal angle θ0 may be equal to θ1, or greater than θ1 and less than θ2. Also, with respect to the deployment height of the cushion airbag 64 from the surface of the seat cushion 4, "small", "medium", and "large" correspond to the cases where only the lower airbag 64b of the two cushion airbags 64 is deployed, only the upper airbag 64a is deployed, and both the upper airbag 64a and the lower airbag 64b are deployed, respectively (see FIGS. 4(B) to (D)).

[0117] Note that ST2 to 4 may be omitted. In this case, the control device 16 may perform processes corresponding to ST3 and 4 in parallel with ST6. Also, when the vehicle V collides with an obstacle before the change process of the seat surface angle θ in ST4 ends, the change process of the seat surface angle θ may be continued or stopped.

[0118] When the seat surface angle θ is changed in ST4, the seat surface angle θ in Table 1 is the changed seat surface angle θ. When the vehicle V collides during the change, the seat surface angle θ is the seat surface angle θ at the time of the collision. v1 is a speed greater than 0, v2 is a speed greater than v1, and v3 is a speed greater than v2. For example, v1 may be set to 10 km / h, v2 may be set to 30 km / h, and v3 may be set to 50 km / h.

[0119]

Table 1

[0120] If the seat surface angle θ is a positive value, as the seat cushion 4 slopes upward more, the reaction force and frictional force from the seat cushion 4 to the user in the rearward direction of the seat increase, and these reaction force and frictional force contribute to the suppression of the submarining phenomenon. For this reason, as shown in Table 1, the deployment height of the cushion airbag 64 from the upper surface of the seat cushion 4 is set to gradually decrease as the seat surface angle θ increases. When the seat surface angle θ is large, if the deployment height is excessive, it will impose an excessive burden on the occupant. On the other hand, even if the deployment height is relatively small, a sufficient submarining phenomenon suppression effect can be obtained. Also, the higher the vehicle speed v, the greater the inertial force applied to the user when colliding with an obstacle ahead. For this reason, the deployment height of the cushion airbag 64 from the surface of the seat cushion 4 is set to gradually increase as the vehicle speed v increases.

[0121] When the seat surface angle θ is greater than a first predetermined value θ1 (θ1 is an angle larger than θ0) and the vehicle speed v exceeds a predetermined value (v3) (corresponding to the column marked " * " or " ** " in Table 1), the control device 16 may control the seat surface angle changing device 11 to displace the seat cushion 4 in the downward forward direction. In this case, it is preferable that the seat surface angle θ after the change does not fall below θ1. Further, when the seat surface angle θ exceeds a second predetermined value and is upward (θ > θ2) and the vehicle speed v exceeds a predetermined value (v3) (corresponding to the column marked " ** " in Table 1), the control device 16 may control the reclining device 36 to recline the seat back 5. In order to perform these displacements quickly, instead of the seat surface angle changing device 11 and the reclining device 36, springs, gunpowder, etc. (not shown) may be used.

[0122] When the seat surface angle θ exceeds or falls below a predetermined angle from the normal angle θ0 (including the case where the seat surface angle θ is less than 0°), the control device 16 may shift the deployment direction of the cushion airbag 64 from above the upper surface of the seat cushion 4 to obliquely upward and forward with respect to the upper surface by the deployment direction adjustment device 69. Further, the control device 16 determines the seating position of the user with respect to the seat cushion 4 based on the detection result of the in-vehicle camera 18 and the detection result of the pressure distribution of the seat cushion 4 by the plurality of seating sensors 20, and may set the deployment direction of the cushion airbag 64 based on the position and the seat surface angle θ. The deployment direction adjustment device 69 may be provided in the front airbag device 62 and / or the side airbag device 63. In this case, the control device 16 may change the deployment direction of the front airbag 67 and / or the side airbag 68 based on the seat surface angle θ.

[0123] When the seat surface angle θ exceeds or falls below a predetermined angle from the normal angle θ0, the control device 16 may operate the belt retractor 73 to wind up the seat belt 72 and strengthen the restraint of the user by the seat belt 72. When the seat surface angle θ exceeds or falls below a predetermined angle from the normal angle θ0, the control device 16 may control the side support device 38 to increase the protruding height of the side support portion 77 of the seat back 5.

[0124] The operation and effect of the first embodiment will be described. When the vehicle V collides with an obstacle, if the deployment height of the cushion airbag 64 from the surface of the seat cushion 4 is large when the seat surface angle θ is large, the force applied from the cushion airbag 64 to the user's thigh will impose a large burden on the user's body. On the other hand, when the seat surface angle θ is large, the backward reaction force and frictional force on the user from the seat cushion 4 increase, and these reaction force and frictional force contribute to the suppression of the submarining phenomenon. Therefore, by gradually reducing the deployment height of the cushion airbag 64 from the surface of the seat cushion 4 as the seat surface angle θ increases, the burden on the user's body is reduced while maintaining the suppression effect of the submarining phenomenon.

[0125] The higher the vehicle speed v is, the greater the inertial force applied to the user when colliding with an obstacle ahead. In this regard, the deployment height of the cushion airbag 64 from the surface of the seat cushion 4 is set to increase step by step as the vehicle speed v increases. For this reason, the submarine phenomenon is suppressed without excessively protruding the cushion airbag 64 from the surface of the seat cushion 4 and increasing the burden on the user's body.

[0126] When the seat surface angle θ exceeds a predetermined value and is higher than the normal angle θ0, if the vehicle V collides with an obstacle at a relatively high speed, a large burden is imposed on the user's body due to the inertial force applied to the user and the reaction force from the seat cushion 4. In such a case, the burden applied to the user's body can be reduced by displacing the seat cushion 4 in the forward-downward direction or tilting the seat back 5 backward.

[0127] When the seat surface angle θ is lower than the normal angle θ0 by more than a predetermined angle, the user is more likely to be seated in front of the seat cushion 4 compared to when the seat surface angle θ is the normal angle θ0. In such a case, by setting the deployment direction of the cushion airbag 64 diagonally upward in front with respect to the upper surface of the seat cushion 4, the cushion airbag 64 can lift a relatively forward portion of the user's thigh, enabling effective suppression of the submarine phenomenon.

[0128] When the seat surface angle θ is lower than the normal angle θ0 by more than a predetermined angle, when a collision of the vehicle V with an obstacle is predicted, or when the vehicle V collides with an obstacle, the suppression effect of the submarine phenomenon is enhanced by the displacement of the seat cushion 4 in the forward-upward direction.

[0129] When the user seated in the driver's seat holds the steering wheel (not shown), the submarine phenomenon of the driver's seat is likely to be suppressed. However, users seated outside the driver's seat, such as in the passenger seat or the rear seat, have nothing to hold. Therefore, by setting the deployment height of the cushion airbag 64 in the seats other than the driver's seat to be higher than the deployment height of the cushion airbag 64 in the driver's seat, and by making the seat surface angle θ of the seats other than the driver's seat at the time of collision prediction or collision of the vehicle V larger than the seat surface angle θ of the driver's seat, the suppression effect of the submarine phenomenon of the users seated in the seats other than the driver's seat can be enhanced.

[0130] Upper body restraint devices such as the seat belt 72 and the side support portion 77 of the seat back 5 that restrain the upper body of the user enhance the restraint of the upper body of the user at the time of collision of the vehicle V, thereby suppressing the submarine phenomenon.

[0131] Since the upper airbag 64a and the lower airbag 64b are arranged in the seat cushion 4 so as to overlap each other vertically, the deployment height of the cushion airbag 64 at the time of deployment can be changed step by step.

[0132] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description, the configurations common to the first embodiment will be omitted and the same reference numerals will be given, and the configurations similar to the first embodiment will be described only with respect to the differences and the same reference numerals will be given.

[0133] FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the seat cushion 4. The seat cushion airbag device 78 according to the second embodiment has side cushion airbags 79 that can be independently deployed on the left and right sides of the seat cushion 4 and an inflator 65 (see FIG. 4). Each of the side cushion airbags 79 has an upper airbag 79a and a lower airbag 79b that are arranged in the seat cushion 4 so as to overlap each other vertically. Each of the left and right inflators 65 has an upper inflator 65a that introduces gas into the upper airbag 64a and a lower inflator 65b that introduces gas into the lower airbag 64b (see FIG. 4). The control device 16 can control the left and right inflators 65 independently of each other, and can control the upper inflator 65a and the lower inflator 65b independently of each other on the left and right sides.

[0134] The main body 80 of the seat cushion 4 is composed of a pair of side portions 81 that can independently change the seat surface angle θ by the seat surface angle changing device 11. Normally, the control device 16 controls the seat surface angle changing device 11 (see FIG. 3) so that the seat surface angles θ of the pair of side portions 81 coincide with each other.

[0135] FIG. 10 shows the positional relationship between the vehicle V according to the second embodiment and other vehicles 82 and 83 that are obstacles. As shown in FIG. 10, the relative approaching direction between the obstacle and the vehicle V may be substantially the same as the traveling direction of the vehicle V with respect to the road surface or may be deviated. As a case where both directions are substantially the same as each other, for example, the case where the obstacle is another vehicle 82 traveling in the same lane can be cited. As a case where both directions are deviated from each other, for example, the case where the obstacle is another vehicle 83 traveling in a lane intersecting the vehicle V can be cited.

[0136] When the traveling direction and the approaching direction substantially coincide with each other, when the control device 16 collides with an obstacle (another vehicle 82), in accordance with the conditions in Table 1, the left and right inflators 65 are operated in the same manner. Further, when the traveling direction and the approaching direction substantially coincide with each other, and when the conditions for changing the seat surface angle θ described in the first embodiment are satisfied when the vehicle collides with an obstacle (another vehicle 82) or when a collision is predicted, the control device 16 changes the seat surface angle θ so that the seat surface angles θ of the pair of side portions 81 coincide with each other.

[0137] When the traveling direction and the approaching direction deviate from each other, when the vehicle V collides with an obstacle (another vehicle 83), the control device 16 operates the left and right inflators 65 in accordance with the conditions in Table 1. However, when the deployment height of the cushion airbag 64 is not maximum, the control device 16 changes the deployment height of the side cushion airbag 79 on the side where the obstacle (another vehicle 83) exists to be one or more steps higher. Accordingly, the deployment height of the pair of side cushion airbags 79 is higher on the side where the obstacle (another vehicle 83) exists, or both reach the maximum deployment height. Further, when the traveling direction and the approaching direction deviate from each other, and when the vehicle collides with an obstacle (another vehicle 83) or when a collision is predicted, the control device 16 makes the seat surface angle θ of the side portion 81 on the side where the obstacle (another vehicle 83) exists larger than the seat surface angle θ of the other side portion 81.

[0138] When the vehicle V collides with an obstacle (another vehicle 83) when the traveling direction and the approaching direction deviate from each other, a force is applied to the user in an oblique direction inclined to the left and right with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle V. By increasing the deployment height of the side cushion airbag 79 on the side where the obstacle (another vehicle 83) exists and / or increasing the seat surface angle θ of the side portion 81 on the side where the obstacle (another vehicle 83) exists, the suppression effect of the submarine phenomenon on the user to whom the force is applied obliquely forward is improved.

[0139] With the above, the description of the specific embodiments is completed, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and modifications, and can be widely modified and implemented. The cushion airbag 64 before deployment may be arranged so as to overlap three or more vertically in the seat cushion 4.

Explanation of Symbols

[0140] 1: Vehicle seat 4: Seat cushion 11: Seat surface angle changing device 13: Outdoor vehicle monitoring device 15: Vehicle state monitoring device 16: Control device 36: Reclining device 37: Airbag device 38: Side support device 61, 78: Seat cushion airbag device 64: Cushion airbag 64a: Upper airbag 64b: Lower airbag 65: Inflator 65a: Upper inflator 65b: Lower inflator 72: Seat belt 79: Side cushion airbag 82, 83: Other vehicles (obstacles) R: Reference plane (floor surface) S: Seating surface V: Vehicle θ: Seat surface angle

Claims

1. A vehicle having a floor, a seat provided on the floor, an airbag device including an airbag that can be deployed to protect an occupant in the event of a collision, and a control device configured to control the airbag device, The sheet is a seat cushion that supports the user's buttocks from below; a seat angle changing device for changing a seat angle, which is an angle between a floor surface of the vehicle and a seating surface of the seat cushion, from a normal angle in a normal position toward a front upward direction and a front downward direction, The control device is configured to control the airbag device so that a deployment state of the airbag is changed based on the seating angle.

2. the airbag device includes a seat cushion airbag device, the airbag includes a cushion airbag provided within the seat cushion, 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the seat cushion airbag device comprises: the cushion airbag; and an inflator that introduces gas into the cushion airbag to deploy the cushion airbag from a front portion of the seating surface of the seat cushion.

3. 3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the control device controls the seat cushion airbag device so that, when the seat angle is lower than the normal angle by more than a predetermined value, the deployment height of the cushion airbag is higher than when the seat angle is at the normal angle.

4. 3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the control device controls the seat cushion airbag device so that, when the seat angle is below zero degrees, a deployment height of the cushion airbag is higher than when the seat angle is at the normal angle.

5. The vehicle according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein, when the seat angle exceeds the normal angle by more than a predetermined value, the control device controls the seat cushion airbag device so that the deployment height of the cushion airbag is lower than when the seat angle is at the normal angle, or so that the cushion airbag is not deployed.

6. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control device displaces the seat cushion in the forward upward direction when deploying the airbag when the seat surface angle is lower than the normal angle by a predetermined value.

7. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control device displaces the seat cushion in the forward downward direction when the airbag is deployed in a case where the seat surface angle exceeds the normal angle by a predetermined value.

8. The vehicle further includes an exterior monitoring device configured to detect an obstacle around the vehicle and output a detection result to the control device, The control device is configured to predict the possibility of the vehicle colliding with the obstacle based on the detection result of the exterior monitoring device, and when a collision is predicted, (i) if the seat surface angle is lower than the normal angle by a predetermined value, the seat cushion is displaced in the forward upward direction before the airbag device is activated, and (ii) if the seat surface angle is higher than the normal angle by a predetermined value, the seat cushion is displaced in the forward downward direction before the airbag device is activated. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

9. A vehicle speed sensor is further provided for detecting a speed of the vehicle and outputting the detection result to the control device. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the controller varies a deployment height of the cushion airbag based on the speed.

10. 10. The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein, when the speed is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the control device controls the seat cushion airbag device so that the deployment height of the cushion airbag is suppressed compared to when the speed exceeds the predetermined value, or so that the cushion airbag is not deployed.

11. 10. The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein when the seat angle exceeds the normal angle by more than a predetermined value and the speed is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the control device controls the seat cushion airbag device so that the cushion airbag is not deployed.

12. The seat includes a driver's seat and another seat other than the driver's seat, 5. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a deployment height of the cushion airbag of the other seat is higher than a deployment height of the cushion airbag of the driver's seat.

13. The seat includes a driver's seat and another seat other than the driver's seat, 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when the vehicle collides or a collision is predicted, the control device controls the seat surface angle change device so that the seat cushion is displaced in the forward upward direction and so that the amount of displacement of the seat cushion of the other seat in the forward upward direction is greater than the amount of displacement of the seat cushion of the driver's seat in the forward upward direction.

14. The cushion airbag includes left and right side cushion airbags provided on both sides of the seat cushion, the control device is capable of independently controlling the deployment height of each of the left and right side cushion airbags, 3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein, when the vehicle collides with an obstacle in a case where a relative approach direction between the obstacle and the vehicle is deviated from a traveling direction of the vehicle relative to a road surface, the control device controls the seat cushion airbag device so that a deployment height of one of the left and right side cushion airbags arranged on a side of the vehicle where the obstacle is present is higher than a deployment height of the other of the left and right side cushion airbags.

15. The seat cushion has a pair of side portions that allow the seat angle to be changed independently of each other, The control device and the seat angle changing device are configured to be able to independently control the seat angles of the pair of side portions of the seat cushion, 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when the vehicle collides with an obstacle or when a collision is predicted, the control device controls the seat angle change device so that the amount of displacement in the forward upward direction of one of the pair of side portions arranged on a side of the vehicle where the obstacle is present is greater than the amount of displacement in the forward upward direction of the other of the pair of side portions.

16. an upper body restraint device that restrains an upper body of the user and is controllable by the control device; 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when the vehicle collides or when a collision is predicted, the control device controls the upper body restraint device in a direction to increase a restraining force.

17. The sheet is a seat back supported on a rear portion of the seat cushion and supporting a back of the user from behind in a seat front-rear direction; a reclining device that tilts the seat back relative to the seat cushion about a tilt axis that extends in a seat width direction, 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when the seat angle exceeds the normal angle by a predetermined value and the vehicle has collided or a collision is predicted, the control device controls the reclining device so that an upper portion of the seat back faces rearward.

18. The cushion airbag is disposed in a plurality of positions in the seat cushion so as to be vertically stacked in a non-deployed state, and at least one inflator is provided in each of the cushion airbags, 3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the control device changes the overall deployment height of the cushion airbags by controlling the inflators corresponding to the respective cushion airbags independently of one another.

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